Reason for Marriage - Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Personal arrangement
“This is the right place… Is anyone there?”
Kang, the owner of the used instrument store, checked the address on his notebook once again. It was a notebook containing the addresses of customers who had called for tuning.
Minju had disappeared on Monday, saying that she would go to Pyeongchang after leaving the office.
Kang visited the house in case the owner of the house knew something about Minju’s whereabouts.
Minju, who saw President Kang’s face on the video phone, almost opened the door with joy.
“Who’s here?”
The voice of the helper who followed made Minju’s hand stop trying to press the door open button.
“…Do you know him?”
“No, I don’t.”
Minju did not want to reveal her relationship with the owner to the woman who saw her as the daughter of a wealthy family, and pretended she did not know him.
“Then don’t open the door. He must be trying to sell something.”
“That’s better, isn’t it?”
“Oh, Madam must be nice and tender-hearted, right? But in this world, it’s perfect to get hit on the back of your head.”
Turning back with a smile, Minju’s heart was pounding, as she thought that she almost made a huge mistake just now.
Don’t disclose our relationship to anyone.
The first item of the promise she had made with Sang-yeon came to her mind belatedly.
If it wasn’t for the helper, I would have been in big trouble. But what is he doing here? Did he come to do the tuning himself? Or is he looking for me?
“What day is it today?”
“It’s Tuesday. What about it?”
“No, it’s just that I’ve lost my sense of the day of the week.”
Only then did Minju realize that it had been a week and a day since she had been absent without permission.
A week that felt like a day, or just a few hours, had disappeared in the blink of an eye.
It felt like dizzying amounts of chocolate had been applied between the folds of her brain, blocking all cognitive functions. As if possessed, her mind was blank, and her body seemed to be floating in the air.
It had already been a week since she had a dream-like time away from the reality of running to make a living.
Knowing that unhappiness and pain were as long as eternity and happiness was always instantaneous, Minju wanted to hold these times tightly. She was worried that misfortune would come, ring the doorbell and take away her happiness.
I should hide this happiness as much as I can. I will hide so that misfortune cannot find me, and enjoy happiness for a long time.
Minju wanted to cut off all of her tired past life. She judged that it would be wise to build a thorough wall and keep a distance from the past for her new start.
He rang the doorbell several times, but when there was no response, Kang also turned away.
Sang-yeon, who tasted a spoonful of codfish soup, stared at Minju.
“Looking at your expression, it suits your taste, doesn’t it? That’s a relief.”
“Minju-ssi, do you know you keep following me?”
“Am I? No way?”
“Since you played the piano.”
“Well, it’s just a coincidence.”
When Minju denied, Sang-yeon’s playfulness kicked in.
“I told you to play the piano because I thought this opportunity would be rare for you, but who kissed me saying that you will never get an opportunity like this again?”
“Oh, I don’t know, I don’t know. Maybe I’m a bit more mischievous than I look. Is it strange for a couple to look alike?”
Sang-yeon thought of something for a moment at the word ‘couple’, and soon smiled at Minju with a bright expression.
It was an instant, but seeing Sang-yeon’s facial muscles stiffened, Minju’s heart shrank, wondering if she had made a mistake.
“By the way, Minju-ssi is stronger than she looks at cooking Korean food.”
He said that the codfish soup tasted good as if nothing had happened. When she heard the compliment, Minju could not say that this was the skill of the helper.
Yes, like she said, I can do it from now on. I’ll learn how to cook.
“Actually, someone came to the house this afternoon.”
Sang-yeon’s expression definitely hardened this time.
“…”
“Don’t worry. Of course I didn’t open the door. I didn’t even talk to him over the intercom. I don’t want him to know I’m in this house.”
“Well done. Who was it?”
“It was… the owner of the used instrument store. Come to think of it, I didn’t go to work for more than a week without saying a word. I was so distracted.”
“He must be worried.”
“Yes, probably a lot.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I was thinking of calling him directly, but I thought it would be better to talk to you first.”
“Then let’s do this. You can write him a letter. A sort of resignation.”
“Oh… resignation.”
It was not that Minju did not dream of becoming a full-time housewife, but when she heard Sang-yeon’s suggestion, telling her to quit her job, she was worried.
“I want Minju-ssi to quit being a tuner and find her dream now.”
It could not have been sweeter. Find her dream.
She had never imagined playing the piano again with her husband’s support after stepping down from her career.
I would gladly do that! Minju hesitated to answer the proposal with this shameless line.
“I think Minju-ssi is talented enough as a pianist.”
It did not matter whether Sang-yeon was lying or not.
When was the last time she had received praise and encouragement from a loved one? Minju realized for the first time how reliable support made people feel.
“Thank you. I’ve never said this before, have I? I was so embarrassed to just receive from you. It’s not because I take it for granted. I couldn’t even say thank you because I knew it was too brazen when I didn’t have anything to give and just received unilaterally. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you, I’m sorry, let’s not say this between a couple. I’m getting enough from Minju-ssi.”
Once again moved by Sang-yeon’s generous consideration, Minju nodded.
“I’ll write a letter. I’ll tell him I quit my job.”
“I’ll wash the dishes in return for the delicious dinner, so go up and write the letter.”
“Yes!”
Minju answered bravely like a good child and ran straight up to the second floor.
Minju’s steps, which rarely hide her emotions, were full of excitement, and it was conveyed to Sang-yeon.
To the boss-nim
Are you surprised? Let me apologize first. I’m so sorry to say hello to you all of a sudden through a letter. It would be more polite to visit and meet in person, but I hope you understand that the situation makes it impossible.
I suddenly got married. I should have told you earlier, but I missed the timing. I’m moving to the countryside with my husband, so I’m afraid I have to quit my job.
I’ll never forget boss-nim’s heart that always took care of me and taught me. Thanks to you, I was able not to let go of the piano. Thank you very much.
You must stay healthy until the day we meet again.
From Minju.
Minju repeated writing and erasing over and over again, as it had been a long time since she last wrote a long sentence with a pen rather than a text message on a cell phone. It was particularly difficult for her to decide how far to tell the truth and where to mix lies to make it sound plausible.
She went to Sang-yeon with the finished letter. Minju said, carefully sticking out the envelope as if she were getting her homework checked.
“Do you want to read it?”
Sang-yeon took the letter out of the envelope without saying a word.
“Your handwriting is very pretty, too.”
Sang-yeon murmured softly as if he was talking to himself. Now that she thought about it, it was the first time he was seeing her handwriting. If she knew this would happen, she would have written it prettier. But was he trying to say that I’m pretty too? Minju’s face was burning for no reason.
“That’s good enough. I’ll stop by the post office on my way to work tomorrow. Is there anyone else you should write to as well? I think it would be good to write more letters while you’re at it.”
“Well… there’s no one in particular who’s curious about me anymore.”
“All right.”
Minju left the room with a lonely smile.
* * *
Ring ring
The phone of the used instrument store rang the next morning.
“Yes, it’s the used instrument store Vintage Sound.”
Kang answered the phone in a friendly voice.
“This is Pyeongchang, where you regularly tune the piano every Monday.”
“Oh, yes, sir. I was actually…”
“What the hell happened?”
The other person interrupted Kang and asked him out of the blue.
“Oh, what do you mean?”
“Why aren’t you coming to tune? You’ve already missed two sessions!”
There was a strong hysteria in the voice of the man coming from the other side of the phone.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Our staff had a problem. I can come instead, what time would be the best?”
“That’s enough. I don’t want to entrust my piano to people who break their promises with customers.”
The phone just hung up.
Missed two sessions? So Minju did not go to the house last Monday either… She came out of the bank looking for money, got hit by a motorcycle, and did not tune. I guess so. But where is she then? Girl, where the hell are you right now?
Kang became more concerned about Minju’s mysterious whereabouts than the customer’s complaint, and his neck became stiff.
Sang-yeon, who finished his call with Kang, came out of a public phone booth in a quiet park.
Choi Minju’s last known location cannot be in this house. It should never be this house. There shouldn’t be any connection with me.
Sang-yeon intentionally leaked false information to the store owner in order to erase Minju’s remaining traces.
He even showed meticulousness in using a public phone, not his mobile phone, for fear that it might be tracked.
Sang-yeon’s cell phone rang when he was about to throw Minju’s handwritten letter into the trash can of the park.
“What’s going on?”
“I haven’t received the payment for the piano yet.”
“I’ll hang up and deposit the money right away.”
“I see.”
Sang-yeon, who was about to end the call, continued as he thought of something.
“Oh, I have a question…”
“Tell me.”
“Is it possible to copy handwriting?”
“There are a lot of kids who specialize in forging documents. Do you need anything?”
“Not right now, but I think I’ll need something later.”
“As long as the original text is in good condition, there’s no problem.”
“Okay, I got it. Then I’ll call you again.”
Minju’s handwritten letter, which should be sent to Kang, quickly shifted its fate from the trash can to the inner pocket of Sang-yeon’s coat.
